I’d say Clapton, but my favorites are Joe Bonamassa and Cody Canada, John Fogerty.
Other great ones, I’m sure I’ve forgotten others, no particular order Ian Moore Brad Paisley Pat Travers Hank Jr Chris Stapleton Keith Urban Brian Setzer Warren Haynes Jerry Garcia
I would love to debate you on both accounts, but I can't!
Might as well nominate Les Paul and Clapton for those two spots. Hard to argue those two. Les was the only one I ever saw Chet not smug around. Had true admiration for Les.
As far as players go, the humble Mark Knopfler is tops in my book...
Travis Tritt can play (and sing) too! We lost SRV waaay too soon.
The Classic Gibson Sunburst Standard is the ultimate in tone and makes people sound their very best. No amount of research and money has ever been able to replicate the sound of those PAF pic ups.
I’d say Clapton, but my favorites are Joe Bonamassa and Cody Canada, John Fogerty.
Other great ones, I’m sure I’ve forgotten others, no particular order Ian Moore Brad Paisley Pat Travers Hank Jr Chris Stapleton Keith Urban Brian Setzer Warren Haynes Jerry Garcia
Clapton is up there, certainly for his pioneering of the guitar and probably the best because of that, but his vocals were never the equal of Jack Bruce. Joe B. emulates his hero's so while is is exceptional at what he does, he is not a pioneer of the sounds he recreates and his vocals are never going to be up there though his pitch is very good. Urban is maturing and will continue to improve but he is both very good on guitar and vocals. The rest I never heard or listened to to be worthy of a comment.
I would love to debate you on both accounts, but I can't!
Might as well nominate Les Paul and Clapton for those two spots. Hard to argue those two. Les was the only one I ever saw Chet not smug around. Had true admiration for Les.
If you like Chet Atkins then you will like the Aussie Player, Tommy Emanuel who was adored by Atkins and everyone else in country music.
The American music market sadly lost out by not discovering Gary Moore. He could rip with the very best of them and had a good vocal though his head looked like a kicked in kerosene can and that probably affected his commercial marketability.
In terms of feel and emotion in a guitar note there is only 1 musician that stirs the envy in all guitar players and that was Paul Kossof. Clapton sat in the first row with Ginger Baker to watch him play Madison Square Garden as he was the absolute master of hand vibrato on guitar. Never been an equal. Bonamassa drools at just the sight of one of his guitars. Dead at 25, we lost a lot.
I was quite surprised when I first saw Jimmy Vaughn. He was extremely untalented and amateurish compared to his peers. I have played with many who could wipe the floor against him both for guitar and vocals so this one surprises me. No offense meant. SRV and Clapton, by all means.
As far as players go, the humble Mark Knopfler is tops in my book...
Travis Tritt can play (and sing) too! We lost SRV waaay too soon.
Mark Knopfler is one of my favorites. I think his guitar playing is the equivalent of a lead vocal. Mark did an album with Chet Atkins, Neck and Neck. It's worth a listen.
There are so many good ones to choose from and my choice would change based on the day. Here are a few I'd have on my list to choose from:
Ry Cooder Joe Satriani Gary Moore Eric Johnson Kenny Wayne Shepherd Steve Vai John Petrucci Steve Morse Joe Bonamassa Alvin Lee Johnny Lang
Right now I've got John Petrucci's Suspended Animation album playing.
Who you like depends on your genre of music. There's no one best but there are a lot of really damned good guitar players. Some of the best are likely no-names, never "made it."
Hendrix and Page go on the list. Roy Clark and Glen Campbell, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban. Richie Blackmore. Yngwie Malmsteen. Carlos Santana. Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker. Stevie Ray Vaughn. Joe Satriani. Ted Nugent is no slouch ... when his ego is in check and he focuses on the music. Zakk Wylde and Randy Rhoads.
The list is dang near endless. (You'll find me 2nd to last still trying to get the fugger in tune. :))
"Best" really is a subjective term. But, I do think that guitar players make the best judges. As listeners, I think we really don't often get to hear what a player is truly capable of.
One great player few have heard was Shawn Lane. He picked up with Black Oak Arkansas at fifteen years of age and went on from there. The guy was a real prodigy and became an absolute monster on the fretboard. If you are open minded enough to listen to a little jazz fusion improvisation, youtube "Time Is the Enemy" (Jonas Hellborg) and hear a cut or three.
Years ago I happened to see Glen Campbell on tv, and they let him cut loose a little. I was surprised at his ability when he rocked out a bit.
One guy who can flat play is Leo Kottke. The man is amazing.
Along the fusion lines, Allan Holdsworth was the player everyone aspired to equal. I don't believe anyone ever has, or will. Expect no vocals, though. He wasn't interested in vocals and that always suited me just fine.
This might be true. Mark Knophler should be right up there tho. Talented guy.
Definitely such a thing as "Great". Mark fits that.
My kids get annoyed at me when I say "That is the GREATEST (fill in the blank - rock & roll song, Country song, etc) EVER!" because I say it for a lot of things.....just to annoy them!
I can’t believe I forgot Hendrix, best guitar slinger that could sing. If you figure length of career, I still vote Clapton. Chuck Berry great guitar player and singer too!
The one you like the most is the best to you in my opinion. There are lots of fabulous singers, lots of magnificent guitar players, but damn few could do both. A rare talent!
I would love to debate you on both accounts, but I can't!
Might as well nominate Les Paul and Clapton for those two spots. Hard to argue those two. Les was the only one I ever saw Chet not smug around. Had true admiration for Les.
If you like Chet Atkins then you will like the Aussie Player, Tommy Emanuel who was adored by Atkins and everyone else in country music.
Geddy Lee of Rush......bass guitar, but does it better than most,sings, and plays keyboards with his hands and sometimes his feet. Alex Lifeson is no slouch either.
Here is a live performance of one of my favorite songs, "Can't Find My Way Home." Look how the director zooms in on Clapton on the guitar, I mean, it is Eric Clapton! Takes him a few minutes that it is Knopfler who is doing the brilliant guitar work.
No one is THE best but one among the best is David Gilmour. I've never seen anyone who could take you on a journey or tell a story with a guitar the way he does. Hendrix is up there too. Just watch the movie Woodstock. Tons of great music but when Hendrix plays the music suddenly becomes three dimensional and fluid. I doubt that any guitarist has been emulated more than him. Steve Howe, Leslie West, Alvin Lee and............Charo to name a few more.
I don't think I've seen Robin Trower mentioned. Unique he his, in both his playing & voice. The radio was turned down, but as usual & as soon a I heard it, "that's RT." crank it up!
If you’re talking combination of vocal ability and guitar-playing chops, it was Glen Campbell. Great vocalist, and did tons of legendary guitar session work in the mid 60’s.
Prince......Go ahead and blast me for this one..... he phu cking rocked to. Jump to the 3:30 Mark.......
[quote=fester]
Eric is a legend, Glen was amazing, Nugent says Chuck Berry is King but when I tell people Prince is one of the best that ever performed I get the raised eyebrows until they look into it.
I had never seen that one.
Thanks Fester
My favorite is Mark K and likely the one I could most likely relate to as a person.
There is a young Australian lady named Orianthi that is remarkable. Find the video of her at the classic guitar shop with Richie Sambora or any of her others really but that’s not part of this topic exactly just entertainment sharing.
Lots of great ones but the best pure guitarist I ever saw was SRV. He didn't play the guitar it became him. The best sounding guitar is IMO Mark Knopfler. His "Brothers in Arms" was special.
Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Gary Clark, Joe Bonamaso and Brad Paisley are tremendous modern day talents and all 3 can flat out play and sing but there's lots and lots of talent. Picking a "best" is a matter of opinion and you know the saying for that one. LOL
Some nice guitar work in that one. I don't think that dude's the best guitarist in the world by any stretch, but he's a pro and he knows how to sound good!
Some nice guitar work in that one. I don't think that dude's the best guitarist in the world by any stretch, but he's a pro and he knows how to sound good!
The best, no......I've seen him live a couple of times , and he makes an electric acoustic guitar make the widest variety of sounds that I've ever seen.
Some great lists on here, boys, and I do appreciate the vids. Lots to think about.
But it seems to me that some are nominating the best guitar players who can also sing, which isn't the same thing as saying the musician(s) who are at or near the top as guitarists and as singers. And yet others are nominating the ones who weren't necessarily the most adept technically, but whose art influenced others inordinately.
No question, in that latter category you'd have to put Eric Clapton and Jimmy Hendrix. Neither one was a truly gifted singer, but both have/had pleasing voices and vocal styles that have stood the test of time. But both were truly gifted guitarists; maybe not as adept as some of the amazing masters like John Jorgensen or Tommy Emmanuel, but they were/are technically outstanding. Most important, their styles were so unique when they burst onto the music scene in the 1960s that they influenced others tremendously, and changed the direction of music. The whole concept of the rock n roll guitar hero was founded by Clapton and Hendrix in London in 1968 or so: from "Clapton is God" slogans on the Underground walls, to Hendrix's rocket-ride ascent after his impromptu appearance with Cream, the role of lead guitarist was defined for a generation or more, and everyone who has come along since has followed in their footsteps. You can't listen to a guitar solo any more without hearing the pentatonic echoes of Hendrix and Clapton in it. So my vote is for Hendrix and Clapton on that score.
As for best guitar player who can truly sing as well as he plays, there aren't many. I can count them on one hand with 2 fingers missing. Vince Gill is one, and the only one living. The other two are Glen Campbell and Prince. Of the 3, Glen Campbell was and is probably the top. His live and impromptu playing and singing can be accessed pretty easily now on YouTube... do so, and you'll be blown away. His early work with The Wrecking Crew in L.A. is something most music fans have no clue about. His dexterity on the fretboard was as good as anyone I've ever seen, and I do include John Jorgensen and Roy Clark and Tommy Emmanuel in that assessment. Heady company.
But there are others who nobody has ever heard of, who never got that big break, or who took a wrong turn, or whatever. I've known some amazing guitarist-singers over the past 45 years who could have been contenders for rock-n-roll hall of fame if things had gone a little differently.
Some great lists on here, boys, and I do appreciate the vids. Lots to think about.
But it seems to me that some are nominating the best guitar players who can also sing, which isn't the same thing as saying the musician(s) who are at or near the top as guitarists and as singers. And yet others are nominating the ones who weren't necessarily the most adept technically, but whose art influenced others inordinately.
No question, in that latter category you'd have to put Eric Clapton and Jimmy Hendrix. Neither one was a truly gifted singer, but both have/had pleasing voices and vocal styles that have stood the test of time. But both were truly gifted guitarists; maybe not as adept as some of the amazing masters like John Jorgensen or Tommy Emmanuel, but they were/are technically outstanding. Most important, their styles were so unique when they burst onto the music scene in the 1960s that they influenced others tremendously, and changed the direction of music. The whole concept of the rock n roll guitar hero was founded by Clapton and Hendrix in London in 1968 or so: from "Clapton is God" slogans on the Underground walls, to Hendrix's rocket-ride ascent after his impromptu appearance with Cream, the role of lead guitarist was defined for a generation or more, and everyone who has come along since has followed in their footsteps. You can't listen to a guitar solo any more without hearing the pentatonic echoes of Hendrix and Clapton in it. So my vote is for Hendrix and Clapton on that score.
As for best guitar player who can truly sing as well as he plays, there aren't many. I can count them on one hand with 2 fingers missing. Vince Gill is one, and the only one living. The other two are Glen Campbell and Prince. Of the 3, Glen Campbell was and is probably the top. His live and impromptu playing and singing can be accessed pretty easily now on YouTube... do so, and you'll be blown away. His early work with The Wrecking Crew in L.A. is something most music fans have no clue about. His dexterity on the fretboard was as good as anyone I've ever seen, and I do include John Jorgensen and Roy Clark and Tommy Emmanuel in that assessment. Heady company.
But there are others who nobody has ever heard of, who never got that big break, or who took a wrong turn, or whatever. I've known some amazing guitarist-singers over the past 45 years who could have been contenders for rock-n-roll hall of fame if things had gone a little differently.
Well reasoned post James, no surprise there. Will have to check GC out in more depth. Still a huge fan of Wichita lineman and everyday house wife. Without the further research you’ve prompted I’d have given the nod to Prince. Kinda jazzed to go see just what GC had up his sleeve. So thanks
Sammy can play, I forgot about him. I saw a clip of Sammy, Michael Anthony, and Tommy Lee playing together. Sammy is better known for his singing, but he can play too.
Geddy Lee of Rush......bass guitar, but does it better than most,sings, and plays keyboards with his hands and sometimes his feet. Alex Lifeson is no slouch either.
I would love to debate you on both accounts, but I can't!
Might as well nominate Les Paul and Clapton for those two spots. Hard to argue those two. Les was the only one I ever saw Chet not smug around. Had true admiration for Les.
If you like Chet Atkins then you will like the Aussie Player, Tommy Emanuel who was adored by Atkins and everyone else in country music.
Tommy Emanuel, yes indeed...
Tommy was back on channel 9 last night.
My standard for "BEST" is who can do what others can not do.
There are many great pickers but I have only seen Tommy turn his guitar into his whole back up band...turn it into bongo drums and all the Australian Aboriginal instruments.
Johnny Hiland can flat burn it down. Can't say I've heard him sing, but personally I don't give a rat's ass. I only care about the fretboard.
I don't think anyone's mentioned John Denver in this thread. I'm not suggesting he was either a great vocalist or a great guitarist, but he did originate some iconic stuff that everyone knows. Worthy of an honorable mention, maybe.
